Mooring and fluid transferring method and apparatus



. P. J. BILY MOORING AND FLUID THANSFERRING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Jan. 10, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR PET! R J. B I LY v ATTORNEY Oct. 14, 1969 P. J. BILY MOORIN G AND FLUID TRANSFERRING METHOD AND APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1964 INVIENTOR PETER J BILY BY -a ATTORNEY P. J. BILY Oct. 14, 1969 MOORING AND FLUID TRANSFERRING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Jan. 10, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 A 6mm I nl llf ll uwl I 4 INVEINTOR A sw/ mNL A a .ow|\.\, 3

mm E mrm n A k NW mm ATTORNEY Oct. 14, 1969 P. J. BILY MOORING AND FLUID TRANSPERRING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Jan. 10, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY P. J. BILY Oct. 14; 1969 I MOORING AND FLUID TRANSFERRING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Jan. 10, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet i OWN mwN mw m-hul W B 3&6

INVENTOR PETER J. BILY M M i /M ATTORNEY P; J. aiLY Oct. 14,; 1969 MOORING AND FLUID TRANSFERRING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Jan. 10, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR PETER J ATTORNEY United States Patent F 3,472,293 MOORING AND FLUID TRANSFERRING METHOD AND APPARATUS Peter J. Bily, Sunset Beach, Calif., assignor to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 336,906 Int. Cl. B65b 1/04; F1711 N08 US. 'Cl. 141-387 13 Claims The present invention pertains to a mooring and fluid transferring apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for mooring a vessel, such as a tanker, to an anchor at an offshore location while fluid communication is established with the vessel.

The present invention is one of a series of developments involving apparatus for transferring fluid at an offshore berth in areas where normal docking facilities are lacking or unsuitable. Two of the basic problems in this field of endeavor are how to moor a vessel at an offshore berth and how to establish and maintain fluid communication with the moored vessel.

In the past, it has been proposed to moor a vessel by flexible lines to an offshore, above-water terminal and also to establish fluid communication by flexible hoses draped between the vessel and the terminal, there being fluid lines on the sea bed which extend from the terminal to a storage facility, usually on an adjacent shore. These apparatus have several disadvantages: The terminal is subject to storm damage and is a navigational hazard since it permanently projects above the water; the flexible hoses are diflicult to haidle and are subject to the corrosive action of salt Water; and the mooring lines do not allow suflicient movement of the vessel nor do they satisfactorily accommodate normal mooring forces.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for mooring a vessel, especially at an offshore location, and for establishing and maintaining fluid communication between the vessel and a fluid conducting line that is stationary with request to the vessel.

Another object is to provide a mooring apparatus which allows movement of a moored vessel without abruptly imposing mooring stresses on the apparatus or the vessel.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which tethers a vessel in a fluid transferring position so that the vessel can range in a full circle and thereby always remain headed into the prevailing wind.

Another object is to provide a submerged fluid transferring apparatus which, although extending under a vessel, does not contact the bottom of the vessel except perhaps in winds of storm force and then cushions and minimizes the force of engagement of the apparatus with the vessel.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which is easy to connect to a vessel insofar as the connections for mooring and fluid communication are concerned.

Another object is to provide a mooring and fluid transferring apparatus which effectively supports and stores a loading arm employed for establishing fluid communication with the vessel.

Another object is to provide a submersible fluid transferring apparatus at an offshore location so that the apparatus is not a hazard to navigation.

Another object is to provide a fluid transferring apparatus that combines the fluid conduits and structural elements which bear the mooring forces into a rigid unified structure so as to avoid the problems incident to the manhandling of conventional hoses and mooring lines.

These objects, together with other objects, will become apparent upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

3,472,293 Patented Oct. 14, 1969 FIGURE 1 is a plan of a mooring and fluid transferring apparatus embodying the subject invention, with portions of the apparatus being broken away, with the full lines showing the apparatus in its rest position on the seabed, and with the phantom lines indicating how part of the apparatus looks in a mooring position when it is connected to a vessel.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 with the full lines showing the apparatus in its rest position and the phantom lines showin the apparatus in a transitory position between rest and moormg positions.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan as viewed from a position indicated by line 3-3 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4--4 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan of another portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 and with parts being broken away.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 66 in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line 7--7 in FIGURE 5 and with portions being broken away.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged front elevation of still another portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 and with portions being broken away, it being noted that this portion of the apparatus is shown in said transitory position.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation, reduced in scale, of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 8 as viewed from a position on the left of FIGURE 8, it being noted that parts are broken away.

FIGURE 10 is a plan of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9.

FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 and 15 are diagrams which illustrate the operation of the subject apparatus as used in transferring fluid to or from a vessel at an offshore location.

FIGURES l4 and 16 are diagrams showing certain forces which exist as a result of the use of the subject apparatus.

FIGURE 17 is a schematic transverse section through a vessel, showing the relationship of the subject apparatus to the vessel when the apparatus is connected thereto.

With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, a mooring and fluid transferring apparatus 25 embodying the present invention is shown in a rest position, in full lines, lying on the bed 26 of the ocean 27. Although the subject apparatus is described herein as being located in the ocean, it is equally as useful in other bodies of water. The apparatus includes an anchor 30 partially embedded in and fixed on the seabed by anchor lines 31 and deadman anchors 32 connected to the outer ends of the lines; other types of anchors could be employed.

The subject apparatus 25 also includes a vertical forward coupling housing 35 (FIGS. 1-4). It is to be noted that the terms forward and rearwar are used with reference to the orientation of a vessel 36 (FIG. 13) above the apparatus during operation of the latter. The coupling housing (FIG. 4) is secured to the anchor 30 by bolts 40 and includes a lower outer swivel joint enabling rotation of the housing about a forward vertical axis 42 (FIG. 3).

A supply pipe 45 (FIGS. 2-4) lies in the seabed 26 and has an offshore end 46 in the anchor 30. The supply pipe also has an opposite end, not shown, which leads to a storage facility, also not shown, but usually located on an adjacent shore; this storage facility may also be located offshore as, for example, adjacent to an offshore Well. The subject apparatus includes a forward coupling elbow 48 within the anchor, which elbow has a lower end 49 connected to the offshore end 46 of the supply pipe and an upper end 50 projecting upward within the coupling housing 35. An upright inner swivel joint 52 is connected to the upper end of the elbow, and a horizontal pipe coupling 54 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is connected to this inner swivel joint. Lateral swivel joints 55 (FIG. 3) are individually connected to opposite ends of the pipe coupling, and lateral elbows 56 are respectively connected to the lateral swivel joints.

Also included in the subject apparatus 25 is a metallic, preferably steel, conduit structure 60 (FIGS. 1 and 2) that has a rigid longitudinal lower section 62 connected to the forward coupling housing 35 and projecting rearward therefrom, a rigid transverse intermediate section 64 pivotally connected to the lower section, and rigid longitudinal upper sections 66 pivotally connected to opposite ends of the intermediate section. The intermediate and upper sections are also referred to herein as a U- shaped pallet.

The lower section 62 of the conduit structure 60 includes a rigid reinforcing tube 70 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and having a mounting end portion 71 and an opposite coupling end portion 72 provided with outwardly facing concave end walls, as 73. The reinforcing tube is divided into a plurality of compartments 75 (FIG. 1) some or all of which are flooded or partially flooded with water in order to regulate the weight of the lower section; normally, in any given installation of the apparatus, the weight desired is predetermined and selected compartments are filled with water and sealed. Rims 76 are secured to the tube in longitudinally spaced relation therealong, and lateral blocks 77 are secured on opposite sides of the tube and project endwardly from the mounting and coupling end portions thereof. Forward and rear I-beam elements 78 are secured to the blocks and likewise project from the end portions of the tube. The forward I-bea'm elements are connected to the lateral swivel joints 55 on the coupling housing 35 so that the reinforcing tube is mounted for elevational adjustable movement about a horizontal axis 80 (FIG. 4). A lower stop 82 (FIGS. 5-7) is secured to the upper surface of the reinforcing tube at its coupling end portion immediately rearward of the rearwardmost rim 76; the purpose of this stop will be subsequently described.

The lower section 62 of the conduit structure 60 also includes lower conduits 85 (FIGS. l-3) having mounting end portions 86 individually connected to the lateral elbows 56 and opposite coupling end portions 87 adjacent to the coupling end portion 72 of the reinforcing tube 70. The conduits extend along opposite sides of the tube and are rigidly connected thereto by braces 88 which are connected to the rims 76 as well as to the conduits. Thus, the lower section of the conduit structure is mounted for swivelling movement about the axes 42 and 80. Also, the lower conduits are in fluid communication with the supply pipe 45 through the forward coupling elbow 48, the swivel joint 52, the pipe coupling 54 and swivel joints 55, and this fluid communication is maintained notwithstandin g swivelling movement of the section.

The intermediate section 64 of the conduit structure 60 (FIGS. 1, 5-7) includes a main frame 95 having forward and rearward upper tubes 96 and "97 and a lower tube 98, which tubes, as viewed in FIGURE 7, are in triangular relation with each other. These tubes are connected in this relation by main upper and lower struts 99 and by diagonal struts 100. Furthermore, the main frame includes tubular end portions 102 (FIGS. 1 and 8) which project from opposite ends of the tubes 96, 97 and 98. Since one of the functions of the intermediate section is to provide a predetermined amount of weight, the tubes may be compartmented like the reinforcing tube 70, and water may be placed in these tubes to add weight if needed.

The main frame 95 of the intermediate section 64 also includes vertical support plates 106 (FIG. 7) depending from the forward and rear tubes 96 and 97. Laterally spaced mounting channels 107 (FIG. 5) are secured to the support plates and have rear ends 108 under the rearward tube 97 and forward ends 109 projecting forward from the forward tube 96. An upper stop 110 interconnects the forward ends of the mounting channels and is in overlying relation to the lower stop 82. In addition, the main frame 95 includes central webs 112 which extend between and are connected to the lower tube 98 and to the mounting channels.

With particular reference to FIGURES 5 and 7, an upstanding rear coupling housing 116 is supported by and bolted on a plurality of brackets 118 which are fixed to the mounting channels 107 and which define a rectangular opening that receives the rear housing. This rear coupling housing includes an upper outer swivel joint 120 that enables relative rotation between the rear housing and the main frame 95 about a rear upright axis 122. A rear coupling elbow 123 projects downward Within the rear housing and is connected to a T-coupling 125 within the housing. Rear lateral swivel joints 126 are connected to this T-coupling, and lateral elbows 128 (FIGS. 5 and 6) individually interconnect the rear lateral swivel joints and the coupling end portions 87 of the lower conduits 85. Furthermore, the rear I-beam elements 78 are individually secured to the outer portions of the rear lateral swivel joints so that the intermediate section 64 is connected to the lower section 62 and so that the rear housing and therefore, the entire frame 95 can tilt down and back, that is clockwise, from the position illustrated in FIGURE 7.

The intermediate section 64 of the conduit structure 60 also includes intermediate conduits (FIGS. 1 and 5-7) extending lengthwise of the main frame 95 and having inner ends 136 connected to the rear coupling elbow 123 by a T-coupling 138. The intermediate conduits also have outer ends 140 (FIGS. 1 and 8) that project through the tubular end portions 102. Outer swivel joints 142 are individually connected to the outer ends of the intermediate conduits, and elbows 143 are respectively connected to these outer swivel joints.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the intermediate section 64 of the conduit structure 60 is mounted on the lower section 62 thereof for pivotal movement about the upright axis 122 and about a substantially horizontal axis 145 (FIG. 7). counterclockwise pivoting of the intermediate section about the axis 145 is limited by engagement of the upper stop 110 with the lower stop 82, this limiting position being the position wherein a plane containing the forward and rearward upper tubes 96 and 97 is substantially parallel to a plane containing the lower reinforcing tube 70.

Pivoting movement of the intermediate section 64 about the axis 122 is limited by guy lines 148 (FIG. 1) which have rear ends connected to eyelets 149 at opposite ends of the forward upper tube 96 and forward ends connected to the anchor 30. Preferably the guy lines permit pivotal movement of the intermediate section about axis 122 within an angle of about fifteen degrees both forward and rearward of a neutral position wherein the intermediate section is perpendicular to the lower section 62 or, in other words, a thirty degree total range of pivoting movement; this angle is given by way of example only since the invention is not limited to any particular angle of pivoting movement of the intermediate section.

Cushions 150 (FIG. 1) are mounted on the forward and rearward upper tubes 96 and 97 on opposite sides of the center line of the lower section 62 of the conduit structure 60. Each of these cushions includes a bracket 151 secured to its respective tube and a plurality of annular resiliently compressible pads 152, such as rubber tires, mounted on the brackets. The pads are rotatable on the brackets and project upward therefrom, as shown in FIGURE 2.

Each of the upper sections 66 (FIGS. 1 and 8) of the conduit structure 60 includes inboard and outboard support tubes 160 and 161 having lower bushings 162 rotatably fitted on the adjacent tubular end portion 102 of the intermediate section and opposite upper bushings 163. Tubular ribs 164 rigidly interconnect the support tubes in parallel relation with each other.

Each upper section 66 also includes an upper conduit 168 having a lower end 169 connected to its associated lateral elbow 143 and an upper end 170 connected to an upper elbow 171. A cross duct 173 extend through the upper bushings 163 of each upper section, and an outer swivel joint 174 interconnects an outer end of this cross duct with the associated upper elbow 171. Furthermore, an inner swivel joint 174 is connected to an inner end of the cross duct. A spring-clamp 176 is mounted on the inboard support tube 160 adjacent to the cross duct.

Each upper section 66 of the conduit structure 60 includes a buoyancy tank 180 (FIGS. 8-10) of generally cylindrical shape and which has an internal sleeve bearing 181 concentric with the minor axis of the tank and journalled in the upper bearings 163. The cross duct173 of the associated upper section projects through this sleeve bearing. The buoyancy tank is mounted between the inboard and outboard support tubes 160 and 161 for swinging movement about an axis substantially parallel with the axes 80 and 145 and the axis 182 (FIG. 2) of pivotal movement of the upper sections with respect to the intermediate section 64. Each tank has an upper air fitting 184 and a lower water fitting 185 both of which communicate with the otherwise fluid-tight interior of the tank. In addition, each tank has forward and rear eyelets 186. Associated with each buoyancy tank 180 is a buoyancy control pipe 190 having a dual upper portion 192 connected in fluid communication with the water fitting 185 by upper swivel joints 193 and having a single lower portion 195 connected to the upper portion by lower swivel joints 196 and terminating in an open lower end 197. U-shaped straps 199 are connected to a pair of the ribs 164 and loosely extend about the lower portion 195 of each buoyancy control pipe; these straps support the buoyancy control pipe on the ribs during pivoting of each upper section into its rest position, as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 2, and yet accommodate longitudinal movement of the lower portion 195 of the pipe during swinging movement of the buoyancy tank between a position with its major axis substantially normal to the plane of the support tubes 160, 161 (FIG. 9) and a position with this major axis in substantially the same plane as the plane of the support tubes (full lines in FIG. 2).

Buoyancy control buoys 205 (FIGS. 1 and 2) float 1n the water 27 above the conduit structure 60 and include valves 206. The valves are individually connected to the air fittings 184 of the buoyancy tanks 180 by flexible buoyancy control hoses 208. If the tanks are above the lower ends 197 of the buoyancy pipes 190 and the valves are open, the air fittings 184 of the buoyancy tanks are open to the atmosphere and water is hydrostatically forced into the tanks through the buoyancy control pipes 190, causing the tanks and thus the upper sections 66 of the conduit structure to submerge into their rest positions, as shown in full lines in FIG. 2. The tanks will stabilize at a submerged position just above the open lower ends 197 of their respective pipes so that the greater pressure at these lower open ends maintains water in the tanks. When it is desired to raise the upper sections, air is forced into the tanks through the valves and hoses, expelling water from the tanks, and rendering the tanks buoyant so that they raise the upper sections into positions extending upward from the intermediate section 64. Vertical upwardly extending positions of the upper sections, as shown in phantom in FIGURE 2, are merely transitory however, since when the upper sections are connected to a vessel 36, the upper sections project rearward from the intermediate section, as illustrated in phantom in FIGURE 1. The valves 206 are closed to capture air in the tanks so that the tanks remain buoyant and in upper positions until the valves are opened and the air is forced out by water rushing in through the buoyancy control pipes 190.

The subject mooring and fluid transferring apparatus 25 also includes articulated metallic loading arms 215 (FIGS. 2 and 8-10). Each loading arm has an inner conduit 216 connected by inner swivel joints 217 and elbows 218 to the inner swivel joint 174 on its associated upper section 66. Each inner conduit is connected to an intermediate conduit 220 by an intermediate swivel joint 221, and an outer conduit 223 is connected to the intermediate conduit by outer swivel joints 225 and 226 and elbows 227. The outer conduit 223 has a coupling 230 adapted for con nection to one of the manifolds (FIG. 11) 232 on the vessel 36.

The loading arms 215 have folded positions (FIG. 8) wherein their intermediate conduits 220 are releasably held within the clamps 176. In addition to the clamps 176, clamps 235 releasably connect the intermediate conduits to their respective outer conduits 223 adjacent to the couplings 230. The loading arms are movable from their folded positions into projected positions (FIGS. 13, 1S and 17) wherein they can be connected to the manifolds 232. In the folded positions of the loading arm (FIG. 8), the intermediate conduits overlap the inboard support tubes and the intermediate swivel joints 221 are above the intermediate section 64 of the conduit structure 60. Therefore, when the upper sections 66 pivot between their rest positions (FIG. 2 in full lines) and their fluid transferring positions (FIG. 13), the loading arms remain folded against the upper sections (that is, do not swing relative to the upper sections) and the joints 221 do not contact the intermediate section of the conduit structure.

The present apparatus 25 also includes an anchor markor buoy 240 (FIG. 2) that is connected to the forward coupling housing 35 by a line 241. This marker buoy projects out of the water at all times and, of course, indicates the position of the anchor 30. Furthermore, bow connecting lines 245 have lower ends secured to the anchor 30 and upper ends connected to bow line buoys 246. Shackles 247 are fastened to the bow connecting lines. Also, auxiliary lines 248 are connected to the eyelets 149 on the main frame 95 and are releasably fastened by shackles 249 to the front eyelets 186 on the tanks 180.

OPERATION When not being used in a fluid transferring operation, the conduit structure 60 and loading arms 215 lie submerged on the seabed 26 as in full lines in FIGURES 1 and 2. Insofar as the apparatus 25 is concerned, only the buoys 205, 240 and 246 are visible from the surface of the water. Since the buoyancy tanks are filled with water, this fully submerged rest position is maintained so that the apparatus does not constitute a navigational hazard, is not subject to wind damage, and yet can readily be spotted since the buoys are visible.

When it is desired to moor a tanker or other vessel 36 for purposes of transferring fluid to or from the vessel, a launch 250, on which is provided an air compressor 251, motors out to one of the buoyancy control buoys 205, and the crew connects the air compressor to the valve 206 on the buoy. Air is forced into the associated buoyancy tank 180 thereby expelling water from the tank and causing the tank and its associated upper section 66 of the conduit structure '60 to rise into the transitory vertical position illustrated in phantom lines in FIGURE 2. The valve 206 is then closed in order to capture the air in the tank and cause it to remain buoyant. The air compressor is disconnected from this valve, and the launch motors to the other control buoy whereupon, by repeating the described operation, the other buoyancy tank and upper section are made to rise into vertical position. Such upward movement of the buoyancy tanks and upper sections lifts the intermediate section 64 off the seabed 26 into the position illustrated in FIGURE 12. In this position of the apparatus, the tanks are of course visible on the surface of the water.

Next, tow lines, not shown, on the launch 250 are connected to the rear eyelets 186 on the tanks 180 and the conduit structure 60 is swung about the axis 42 until the lower section 62 is in alignment with the direction W of the prevailing wind and projects rearward from the anchor 30 in the same direction as the direction of the prevailing wind.

With the tanker 36 (FIG. 11) headed into the prevailing wind, the tanker is maneuvered toward the anchor marker buoy 240 and on a path which extends between the now visible buoyancy tanks 180. Before the bow of the tanker is between the tanks, the ships bow lines 260, which are connected to bow line winches 261, are individually connected to the anchor bow lines 245, and the tanker is pulled toward the anchor 30 by operation of the bow line winches.

When the tankers bow is between the tanks 180, ships mooring lines 265, which are connected to aft winches 266, are individually connected to the aft eyelets 186 on the buoyancy tanks on their respective sides of the ship. By operating the aft winches the ships mooring lines are tensioned, which in turn pivots the upper sections 66 rearward and lifts the intermediate section 64 (FIG. C13) thereby tensioning the conduit structure, in order to pull the ship forward until it is spotted over the conduit structure 60 (FIG. 13), that is, until the ships manifolds 232 are just aft of the tanks. It will be noted that as the tankerrnoves into this fluid transferring position, the bow lines 260 become slack. Next, ships auxiliary lines 270, which are connected to auxiliary winches 271 between the bow and aft winches 261 and 266, are connected to the auxiliary lines 248, the latter being disconnected from the tanks 180 at this time. These auxiliary lines are provided to restrict forward movement of the ship in the event of a sudden reversal of the wind direction W.

A hoist 280 on the tanker 36 is then employed to lift the loading arms 215 on board the ship, and the arms are connected to the manifolds 232. A signal is communicated to the storage facility, not shown, and the transferring operation begins, either loading fluid into the ship or unloading the fluid from it. If fluid is being loaded onto the ship, it travels from the supply pipe 45 (FIG. 1) through the forward coupling housing 35 (FIG. 4) into the lower conduits 85 (FIG. 5), through the rear coupling housing 116 into the intermediate conduits 135, thence into the upper conduits 168 (FIG. 8), and finally through the loading arms 215 (FIG. 17) into the manifolds 232 of the tanker; if fluid is being unloaded, the flow is reversed as will be understood.

During transfer of fluid, the tanker 36 remains moored to the anchor 30 but can move about while fluid-tight integrity of the connections between the loading arms 215 and the manifolds 232 and between the various conduits 45, 85, 135 and 168 is maintained. That is fore and aft movements of the ship due to varying intensity of the wind force W are accommodated by the conduit structure 60 and the articulated loading arms. Rocking of the ship is accommodated by the inner and outer swivel joints 225 and 226 of the loading arms 215, and skewing of the ship from side to side is accommodated by pivotal movement of the intermediate section 64 about the axis 122. Furthermore, pitching of the ship is accommodated by the swivel points 174 and 221 as well as the pivotal connections between the sections 62, 64 and 66 of the conduit structure. In addition, the ship can range fullcircle about the axis 42 (through the anchor 30) so as always to remain headed into the prevailing wind.

Since the prevailing wind will, therefore, almost always act on the tanker in the rearward direction W, the lower and upper sections 62 and 66 of the conduit structure 60 and the mooring lines 265 are maintained constantly under tension between the aft winches 266 and the anchor 30. As the total rear wind force F (FIGS. 13

and 15) on the ship increases, the lower section and the upper section and mooring line on each side of the ship move toward a colinear relation (phantom lines in FIG. 15), and as this force decreases, they move into a more angulated relation (full lines in FIG. 15).

The reason why the associated upper and lower sections 66 and 62 and the mooring lines 265, on their respective sides of the tanker 36, do not assume a straight line relationship at all times while under tension should be noted. With reference to FIG. 14, the load L, which is primarily the weight of the lower and intermediate sections 62 and 64, tending to submerge the apparatus 25, may be regarded as being concentrated at and directed downward through the axis 122 (FIG. 5). The tanks 180 (FIG. 14) have a capacity sufficient to buoy-up the upper ends of the upper sections 66 at positions above the lower ends thereof with a total force B equal to the load L. Therefore, the upper sections are urged toward straight-up positions by the tanks but are held in rearwa'rdly upwardly projecting positions by the mooring lines. Tension forces in the lower and upper sections and mooring lines are indicated by T1 and T2. As a specific example, if T2 is 100,000 lbs. on each mooring line 265, the total tension T1 on the lower section is 200,000 lbs. Furthermore, if the load L is 20,000 lbs., the buoyancy force B is also 20,000 lbs.

Assuming a constant wind force W, the tension forces T2 (and thus T1) vary as the draft of the ship 36 changes. As the draft increases, that is as the ship goes down under an increasing cargo load, T2 decreases because the force F decreases; the force F decreases under these conditions because as the ship goes down in the water, there is less area of the ship exposed to the wind force W and, therefore, less total force F imposed on the ship. These changes are illustrated by observing the changed positions of the apparatus 25 from FIGURE 13 to FIGURE 15 wherein it will be noted that since T2 decreases, the buoyancy tanks 180 (full lines) move forward and upward and the intermediate section 64 moves downward. When the draft decreases on rising of the ship as a cargo is removed therefrom, the reverse action takes place.

It is an important advantage of the present invention that the interemiate section 64 or rather the cushions thereon do not come into contact with the bottom of the ship 36 except perhaps in a storm wind of great force. This is true even though the buoyancy tanks and the intermediate section move up and down in the water in the manner described above. If such contact does occur, as illustrated in phantom lines in FIGURE 15, the contact occurs gradually and gently and with a force considerably less than the forces T2 on the mooring lines 265. FIGURE 16 is a force diagram showing various forces in effect when contact with the bottom 36' of the ship does occur. The force U is the vertical component of the force T2 acting at the illustrated angle on the intermediate section so that the force U may be approximately one third of the force T2. Furthermore, the total resultant upward force acting on the bottom of the ship is the difference between the force U and the load L, and this total force is distributed over the bottom of the ship among the several cushions 150, the force exerted at each cushion being indentified by the letter C. Therefore, if contact with the bottom of the ship does occur, the force C acting upward at any of the cushions is only a small fraction of the force T2 and one which can easily be withstood by the hull without any adverse effect.

Another important advantage of the apparatus 25 of the present invention is its ability to absorb or cushion mooring forces or, stated otherwise, to avoid abrupt imposition of stress on the conduit structure 60 (FIG. 13), the mooring lines 265, the anchor 30, and the ship 36 as it surges back and forth. In understanding this advantage, it is helpful to regard the lower section 62, the

upper sections 66 and the mooring lines 265 as an articulated linkage which interconnects a fixed point (the anchor 30) on the seabed 26 and movable points (the tankers winches 266) and which includes upper pivot points (where the mooring lines connect to the buoyancy tanks 180) and lower pivot points (where the upper sections connect to the intermediate and thus to the lower section). It is believed that this linkage is readily apparent by observation of FIGURES 13l5. This linkage yieldably resists elongation into a colinear condition with a resistance which progressively increases as the tanker 36 moves rearwardly away from the fixed anchor point. Therefore, an abruptly increasing force F is gradually, rather than abruptly, imposed on the anchor, the conduit structure 60, the mooring lines 265, and the ship. Furthermore, this linkage is maintained under constant tension by the oppositely acting forces L and B imposed on the linkage so that the ship remains dependably moored in its fluid transferring position.

After the transfer of fluid has been completed, the loading arms 215 are disconnected from the manifolds 232, lowered by the hoist 280, and clamped in their folded positions. The ships auxiliary lines 270 are disconnected, and the apparatus auxiliary lines 248 are again connected to the buoyancy tanks 180. Still further, the bow lines 260 are detached from the anchor bow lines 245, and the mooring lines 265 are disconnected from the buoyancy tanks 180. The launch 250 motors alongside of the ship 36 so that the crew can open the valves 206 on the buoyancy control buoys 205, allowing air to bleed out of the buoyancy tanks whereupon water rushes into the tanks causing the same to submerge. It is to be noted that the tanks are manually directed to swing downward in a forward direction so that they return to the illustrated rest positions adjacent to the seabed 26. The ship 36 then leaves under its own power.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the described mooring and fluid transferring apparatus is capable of mooring a vessel at an offshore location and of establishing and maintaining fluid communication with the vessel. The apparatus accommodates full-circle ranging of the ship and other movements of the vessel without abruptly imposing mooring stresses on the apparatus, or the vessel. Since all of the apparatus except the buoys is submerged when not connected to a vessel, it presents no navigational hazard and is not subject to wind damage. Furthermore, even though the apparatus does extend under a vessel to which it is connected, it is only in winds of storm force that the apparatus contacts the bottom of the ship, and even then, the contact is cushioned and the magnitude of the contacting force is minimized. In addition to the foregoing advantages, the apparatus obviates the problems of handling flexible fluid conducting hoses and is easy to connect to and disconnect from a vessel. Also, it is to be noted that the apparatus can be used with various sizes of ships, such as T2 (16000 d.w.t.) to 45000 d.w.t. and T2 to 100,000 d.w.t., depending on requirements.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In an apparatus for transferring fluid to or from a vessel in the water, lower elongated substantially nonextensible fluid conducting means submergible in the water in an inclined position and having opposite mounting and coupling end portions, means for anchoring said mounting end portion in the water, said lower fluid conducting means projecting away from said anchoring means and under said vessel when said apparatus is connected thereto, intermediate fluid conducting means pivotally connected between its ends to and in fluid communication with said coupling end portion, upper elongated substantially non-extensible fluid conducting means having a lower end portion and an upper end portion, said lower end portion pivotally connected to and in fluid communication with said ends of said intermediate fluid conducting means, means for buoying said upper end portion at a position alongside of said vessel and above said lower end portion but permitting rise and fall of said upper end portion with respect to said lower end portion, means for connecting said upper end portion to the vessel thereby placing said upper, intermediate and lower fluid conducting means and said connecting means in tension between said anchoring means and said vessel as said vessel moves away from said anchoring means, said tension increasing as the vessel moves in a direction away from the anchoring means, said conducting, connecting and anchoring means being capable of mooring said vessel to said anchoring means thereby to limit movement of the vessel away from said anchoring means, said upper end portion falling as the tension decreases and rising as the tension increases, and means separate from said connecting means and not under tension for establishing fluid communication between said upper conducting means and said vessel.

2. In combination with a vessel floating in the water, an apparatus for establishing fluid communication with the vessel and for mooring the vessel in the water comprising an anchor below the vessel, first elongated circuit means having an end portion pivoted to said anchor for elevational movement of the conduit means, said conduit means projecting lengthwise of the vessel, second elongated conduit means pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the first conduit means, third elongated conduit means pivotally connected to the ends of said second conduit means, flexible tension means interconnecting said third conduit means and the vessel at a position spaced lengthwise of the vessel from said second conduit means, with said second conduit means being located between said first conduit means and said position, means buoying said third conduit means in the water with a force at least equal to the force urging said second conduit means downward, and means separate from said flexible tension means borne by said third conduit conduit means for establishing fluid communication between said third conduit means and said vessel.

3. In an offshore fluid transferring apparatus, an elongated rigid fluid conducting lower section having an anchoring end portion and an opposite coupling end portion, an elongated rigid fluid conducting intermediate section having opposite ends and being connected between said ends in fluid communicating relation with said coupling end portion of the lower section, and elongated rigid fluid conducting upper sections having lower end portions individually pivoted to and in fluid communication with said opposite ends of the intermediate section and submersibly buoyant upper end portions.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said intermediate section is connected to said lower section for pivotal movement about a first axis substantially parallel to the pivot axes of said upper sections and also for pivotal movement about a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including means for limiting pivotal movement of said intermediate section about said second axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 including stop members on said lower and intermediate sections which are engageable for limiting pivotal movement about said first axis in a predetermined direction.

7. In a fluid transferring apparatus, an elongated rigid fluid conducting lower section having a lower anchoring end portion and an upper coupling end portion, an elongated rigid fluid conducting upper section having a lower coupling end portion and an opposite upper end portion provided with a buoyancy tank, means pivotally interconnecting the coupling end portions of said sections and establishing fluid communication therebetween, and a loading arm pivotally connected to said upper section in fluid communication therewith, said upper section being pivotally movable with respect to said lower section, about an axis extending transversely of said sections, be-

tween a retracted position extending from its pivot axis toward said anchoring end portion and a mooring position projecting away from its pivot axis in generally the opposite direction from said lower section.

8. A fluid transferring apparatus comprising an anchor, a lower section having a mounting end portion swivelly connected to the anchor for elevational movement with respect to the anchor and for movement transversely of said elevational movement, said lower section having a coupling end portion, a transverse section swivelly connected to the coupling end portion of the lower section for swinging movement about said lower section transversely of said lower section, said transverse section having opposite end portions, and upper sections having lower end portions individually connected to the opposite end portions of said transverse section, said upper sections having upper end portions including buoyancy means adapted to support the upper end portions above the lower end portions, there being fluid conducting passageways extending lengthwise of said upper transverse and lower sections with the passageways on said upper and lower sections being respectively connected to the passageway on said transverse section, and a loading arm connected to one of said upper sections in fluid communication with the passageway extending therealong.

9. In an offshore fluid transferring apparatus, an elongated rigid lower section having an anchoring end portion and an opposite coupling end portion, an elongated rigid intermediate section having opposite ends and being connected between said ends with said coupling end portion of the lower section, and elongated rigid upper sections having lower end portions individually connected to said opposite ends of the intermediate section and having submersibly buoyant upper end portions, there being fluid ducts extending lengthwise of said lower, intermediate and at least one of said upper sections.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said intermediate section is connected to said lower section for elevational pivotal movement with respect to said lower section.

11. In combination, anchor means fixed against transverse movement with respect to the bottom of a body of water, a vessel floating in the water, a lower conduit section mounted on the anchor means for elevational movement with respect thereto, said lower section extending lengthwise of and under said vessel, an intermediate transverse conduit section having opposite ends and being pivotally connected between said ends to said lower section, an upper conduit section including buoyancy means, means pivoting the upper section to the intermediate section so that said buoyancy means buoys the upper section in the water with said upper section projecting from said intermediate section, and means interconnecting the vessel and said upper conduit section, said lower, intermediate and upper sections and said interconnecting means constituting an articulated mooring means for said vessel, said upper, intermediate and lower sections and said interconnecting means moving toward and away from a generally straight line relationship as said vessel moves in opposite directions lengthwise of said lower section.

12. In an apparatus for mooring a vessel in the water and for establishing fluid connection with the vessel, a submerged anchor; a structure including a lower longitudinal section connected to the anchor for horizontal and elevational swiveling movement of the structure relative to the anchor, said lower section extending in a predetermined direction lengthwise of a vessel thereabove,

said structure also including a transverse section conlnected to said lower section, said transverse) section adapted to extend transversely of said vessel and having end portions adapted to be located respectively adjacent to opposite sides of the vessel, and said structure further including upper sections individually connected to said end portions of said transverse section, said upper sections including buoyancy tanks which buoy said upper sections in the water so that they project upward from said transverse section adjacent to opposite sides of the vessel, there being fluid passageway means extending along said lower and transverse sections and at least one of said upper sections of the structure; means for establishing fluid communication between the passageway means in the upper sections of the structure and said vessel; and flexible tension members individually connected to said upper sections and adapted to be individually connected to the vessel so that said tanks are located between said anchor and the connections of the tension members to the vessel, said tension members and upper and lower sections being maintainable under tension between the vessel and the anchor incident to the application of force urging the vessel away from the anchor, the angularity between said tension members and said upper sections and between said upper sections and said lower sections being subject to variation as said vessel moves lengthwise of said lower section whereby said transverse section is movable toward and away from said vessel.

13.A fluid transferring apparatus comprising an anchor, a lower conduit section having a mounting end portion swivelly connected to the anchor for horizontal and elevational movement with respect to the anchor, said lower section having a coupling end portion, a transverse conduit section swivelly connected to the coupling end portion of the lower section for horizontal swinging movement about said lower section, said transverse section having opposite end portions, and upper longitudinal conduit sections having lower end portions individually pivotally connected to the opposite end portions of said transverse section for elevational movement with respect to said transverse section, said upper sections having upper end portions including buoyancy tanks adapted to support the upper end portions above the lower end portions in the water, said lower, transverse and upper sections respectively including fluid conduits with the conduits on said upper and lower sections being respectively connected to the conduit on said transverse section, and loading arms individually pivotally connected to the upper sections in fluid communication with their respective conduits.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,648,201 8/ 1953 Marancik l37236 X 2,701,375 2/1955 Ault 9-8 2,955,626 10/1960 Hartley 141279 3,155,069 11/1964 Ross 1l4230 2,882,536 4/1959 Jordan 114230 XR 2,956,532 10/1960 James 114235 3,236,266 2/1966 Bily 137236 XR HAROLD W. WEAKLEY, Primary Examiner U.S. c1. X.R.

@2 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,472, 93 Dated t r 4, 9 9

Inventor(s) BILY It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 32, change "'haidle" to handle Column 1, line 40, change "request" to respect Column 7, line 25, change '(Fig. C13) to (FIG. 13) Column 7, line 30, chan "tankermoves" to tanker moves Column 7, line 65, change "points" to Joints Column 8, line 44, change "interemiat to intermediate Column 10, line 22, change "circuit" to conduit Column 10, line- 37, delete "conduit" after conduit emu-32m 3w W9 W1 fiEAL) .Attest:

Eamammmh WILLIAM E. SW, JR-

Attesting Officer Gomzlssioner of Patent-9 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING FLUID TO OR FROM A VESSEL IN THE WATER, LOWER ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY NONEXTENSIBLE FLUID CONDUCTING MEANS SUBMERGIBLE IN THE WATER IN AN INCLINED POSITION AND HAVING OPPOSITE MOUNTING AND COUPLING END PORTIONS, MEANS FOR ANCHORING SAID MOUNTING END PORTION IN THE WATER, SAID LOWER FLUID CONDUCTING MEANS PROJECTING AWAY FROM SAID ANCHORING MEANS AND UNDER SAID VESSEL WHEN SAID APPARATUS IS CONNECTED THERETO, INTERMEDIATE FLUID CONDUCTING MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED BETWEEN ITS ENDS TO AND IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID COUPLING END PORTION, UPPER ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY NON-EXTENSIBLE FLUID CONDUCTING MEANS HAVING A LOWER END PORTION AND AN UPPER END PORTION, SAID LOWER END PORTION PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO AND IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID ENDS OF SAID INTERMEDIATE FLUID CONDUCTING MEANS, MEANS FOR BUOYING SAID UPPER END PORTION AT A POSITION ALONGSIDE OF SAID VESSEL AND ABOVE SAID LOWER END PORTION BUT PERMITTING RISE AND FALL OF SAID UPPER END PORTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID LOWER END PORTION, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID UPPER END PORTION TO THE VESSEL THEREBY PLACING SAID UPPER, INTERMEDIATE AND LOWER FLUID CONDUCTING MEANS AND SAID CONNECTING MEANS IN TENSION BETWEEN SAID ANCHORING MEANS AND SAID VESSEL AS SAID VESSEL MOVES AWAY FROM SAID ANCHORING MEANS, SAID TENSION INCREASING AS THE VESSEL MOVES IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE ANCHORING MEANS, SAID CONDUCTING, CONNECTING AND ANCHORING MEANS BEING CAPABLE OF MOORING SAID VESSEL TO SAID ANCHORING MEANS THEREBY TO LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE VESSEL AWAY FROM SAID ANCHORING MEANS, SAID UPPER END PORTION FALLING AS THE TENSION DECREASES AND RISING AS THE TENSION INCREASES, AND MEANS SEPARATE FROM SAID CONNECTING MEANS AND NOT UNDER TENSION FOR ESTABLISHING FLUID COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID UPPER CONDUCTING MEANS AND SAID VESSEL. 